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This is the shocking moment a fast food fan hit speeds of 129mph racing home to keep his McDonald’s warm.

Roofer Lee Rutherford, of Blyth, put the pedal to the floor along the A189 - also known as Spine Road - after picking up a McDonald’s in Ashington at 9pm on Saturday, February 6.

This footage shows the hair-raising chase captured by a Northumbria Police copper giving chase to the 32-year-old’s modified Renault Clio in treacherous conditions.

When questioned reckless Rutherford told officers he was in a rush to get home so he could eat his takeaway while it was still warm.

Rutherford pleaded guilty to making a false statement to obtain insurance, but denied dangerous driving.

He was later found guilty at a trial and sentenced for both offences on October 14.

Kyle Patterson, defending Rutherford, told Bedlington Magistrates’ Court: “Him driving at such a speed was because he’d been to McDonald’s and he wanted his food to still be hot by the time he got home.”

Lee Rutherford, a roofer from Blyth

Mr Patterson asked magistrates to consider a non-custodial sentence, saying Rutherford was not “swerving” dangerously on the road. Instead, the lawyer argued, Rutherford’s speed, almost double the 70mph limit, was “just daft”.

He added: “It’s a lad in a high-powered car who sees an open road in front of him at a clear time of day and he puts his foot down.”

Lynne Russell, prosecuting, told the court how a police officer in an unmarked car followed Rutherford before stopping him.

She said: “Taking into account the conditions, the officer felt the standard of driving fell far below the standard of a competent driver in those conditions.”

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He had failed to tell his insurance company that the hatchback had been modified.

The modifications, Mr Patterson told the court, included a new air filter and adjustments to the exhaust.

Rutherford bought the car so he could learn how to drive and has held a licence for under two years. The court heard he has a previous conviction, in 2004, for a drink driving offence.

Rutherford, of Twelfth Avenue, Blyth, has since sold the Clio.

Lee Rutherford

David Gunn, chairman of the bench, said: “The most serious offence is the dangerous driving. We’d say it was excessive speed, in particularly in relation to the conditions on a wet road.”

Mr Gunn said magistrates considered sending Rutherford to prison straight away, but the bench settled on a 20-week custodial sentence, suspended for one year.

Magistrates banned Rutherford from driving for 18-months and revoked his licence, as he has only held one for under two years. Rutherford will have to take an extended driving test to be allowed behind the wheel again.